The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-05
RAILROAD DISASTERS.
Four Accidents With Fatal Re-
suits in One Day.
Two Trains Wrecked By an E1-
plosion of Giant Powder.

Four railroad accidents, with fatal results
in each instance, occurred on Monday. Two
miles north of Dubuque, Ia, two passenger
trains collided on the curve, and the two en-
gineers and one fireman were instantly killed,
the other fireman and q brakeman dying
during the forenoon. Charles Fales, one of
the Oldest engineers on the road, was on the
engine of the south-bound train, and Elmer
Winchester on the north-bound train. VIM.
Richmond and Edward Cummings were the
two firemen, and all lived in Dubuque. John
Pernity, OF Milwaukee brakeman on the
north-b bound train, was among the killed. He
was riding on the engine so as to open the
switch at Peru, three miles beyond, and the
regular meeting place OF the two trains. j..
j. OBrlen, express messenger, and one OF the
postal clerks were badly shaken up, but
not seriously hurt None of the passengers
were injured, beyond a few bruises,
except Richard Wright, of Holy Cross, who
was coming to Dubuque. He was injured III
the back, but not dangerously. The two Ell
gines were badly wrecked aud were thrown
into shapeless mass.
A terrible accident occurred on the Penn
sylvania Railroad, near Mo<Hnaqua, the
same evening. The train dispatcher ut Hny
port gave orders for freight train to pro-
ceed south He had forgotten that freight
train coming north was about due. The train
proceeded south, and when nearing long
curve at Retreat the two engines came in
collision. The engineers and tiremen jumped
and escaped unhurt The train coming north
pulled, besides other freight, four cars Of
giant powder. The collision caused the
powder to explode with terrific force,
setting fire to the cars The farmers for
miles around fastened to che scene and
fought the flames with earth and what
water they could procure. The cars were
shattered into kindling wood. The force Of
the explosion can be imagined since some
of the rolling stock was found & quarter of a
mile distant from the scene of the explosion.
Louis Metz Ellwooi Shark and James
Keene, all brakemen, were buried in the
wreck. They were all fatally injured. Both
totally wrecked.
A collision occurred Mt four o'clock in the
morning near Forest, Ohio, on the Pittshurg,
Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad. The first
section of freight train broke down, and
the second section conided with it, killing
John Bouch, fireman Of the second
section. There were several cars of oil in the
second section and they caught fire, and
soon the entire fore part OF the train WIS
wrapped in flames While the trainmen
were endeavoriug to subdue the fire a car
loaded with dynamite exploded, destroying
several cars, tearing up the track, and injur-
ing the engineer Of the second section and
one tramp.
Thefast day exprqs over the indianapolis
and St Louis Railway was wrecked near
Fern station, about forty-five miles west of
Indianapolis The wreck was caused by the
breaking of a wheel under the rear truck of the
locomotive. The entire train, except the
sleeping car, left the track, and the engineer
and fireman, named Reddington, father and
son, were killed. The elder Reddington, ell
gineer, was found with his hand upon the
throttle The passengers escaped.